Fringe-combing machine.



J. D. PENNINGTON 8; F. G. ANDREWS.

FRINGE GOMBING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEBJI. 1909.

' 949,088, Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

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FRINGE COMBING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1909. 9&9,088, Patented Feb. 15, 1910. 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

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JESSE D. IPENNINGTON AND FRANK G. ANDREWS, OF SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.

FRINGE-COMBING MACHINE.

Spe'cification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J ESSE D. PENNING- TON and FRANK C. ANDREWS, citizens of the United States, residing at Shreveport, in the parish of Caddo and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fringe-Combing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is a machine for combing fringe of bed spreads, curtains, towels, and similar articles after being washed or laundried.

One object of the invention is to provide a time and labor saving machine especially adapted for use in laundries and which will effectively comb fringed articles without pulling out or otherwise injuring the fringe of the same.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved rotary or endless comb and means for supporting and holding the fringed article against the same.

WVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the fringe combing machine, the shaft being in section; Fig. 2 is a top plan view with parts broken away and in section; Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 33 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section taken on the plane indicated by the line 44 in Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is a detail transverse sec tion taken on the plane indicated by the line 55 in Fig. 3.

. The invention comprises a suitable suport 1 referably, but not necessarily, in the orm of a rectangular box or frame adapted to be placed upon a table T or any other suitable support. Arranged within and above the box 1, adjacent to its rear end, is an endless or rotary fringe comb consisting, preferably, of a cylindrical drum 3 from which projects teeth or fingers 4. The latter are yieldably or flexibly supported so that they will not tear or pull out the fringe, such mounting being preferably effected by arranging them in a flexible sheet covering 5 of leather, rubber or the like which is suitably secured to the outer surface of the drum 3. The teeth or needles 4 are preferably in the form of nails driven angularly through the flexible sheet 4 and their projecting portions may be slightly curved longitudinally 1n the direction reverse to that in which the drum rotates. This construction and mountmg of the combing teeth or needles 4 gives them an inclination and freedom of movement independent of the movement of the drum so that they will whip or beat the fringe without tearing out strands of the same or otherwise injuring it. The drum is fixed to a transverse shaft 6 journaled in suitable bearings 7 upon the upper edges of the opposite side walls of the box and upon one of its projecting ends may be arranged tight and loose pulleys 8 for a driving belt; but it will be understood that any other suitable means may be provided for rotating the shaft.

9 denotes a guard for the rotary combing drum in the form of a semi-cylindrical hood or casing arranged over the portion of the drum which extends outside of the box 1, Said guard hood or casing is detachably secured by means of screws or other fastenings passed through flanges 10 formed upon its bottom edges and engaged 'with the upper edges of the box 1.

For the purpose of supporting a fringed article A and holding its fringe F up to the combing drum, a shiftable support 11 is provided. The latter forms the top of the front end of the box 1 and is slidably mounted for movement toward and from the combing drum by providing upon its bottom, adjacent to its side edges, longitudinal guide ribs 12 which contact with the inner faces of the side walls of the box and slide through notches in its front end. The article A is placed upon this slidable top or support 11 so that its fringe hangs over the rear end of the same and upon the curved or concaved face 13 of a fringe support 14, the latter being in the form of a cross piece secured to the bottom of the slidable support 11. The curvature of the surface 13 is concentric with that of the combing drum so that the teeth or needles 4 will act with equal effect on all portions of the fringe supported on said curved surface. The article support or slide 11 is preferably made self retracting by means of two coil springs 15 which have their rear ends secured to the lower front corners of the box. These springs, it will be noted, owing to their arrangement not only serve to retract the support but also to hold it down upon the box. To limit the movement of the slidable support 11, under the action of the springs 15, a stop 16 in the form of a block is secured to the bottom face of the same and adapted to engage the front end Wall of the box 1, as shown 1n Fig. 3 of the drawings.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The combing drum or cylinder 3 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 either by hand or by power and the oper-. ator standing in front of the box spreads the bed spread, curtain, towel, or other fringed article upon the slidable support 11 and allows its fringe to hang over upon the curved supporting face 13. The operator then presses with his body against the front 1 end of the slidable support so as to move the latter, and hence the fringe, against the combing drum or wheel so that the flexibly or yieldably mounted and inclined teeth 4 will comb the fringe by whipping or beating it out straight without pulling out the strands or otherwise injuring the fringe.

lVhile we have shown and described in detail the preferred embodiment of our inven tion, it will be understood that various I changes in the form, proportion, arrangement of parts and details of construction may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

V a direction away from that in which the drum revolves to provide yieldably mounted rigid combing teeth and a support for a frlnged article movable toward and from the drum and having a concaved fringe sup- 1 porting surface concentric with said drum,

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a fringe combing machine, the combination of a box having an open top, a cylindrical drum rotatably mounted adjacent one end of said box and disposed par tially within and partially above the same, means for rotating said drum, a flexible sheet covering upon said drum, rigid combing teeth yieldably mounted in said covering of the drum, a guard casing arranged over the drum and partially closing the top of the box, a slidable support for a fringed article to close the remaining portion of the box, and a concaved fringe supporting surface on the inner end of said slidable support and adapted to hold the fringe of an article against the teeth of the drum.

3. In a fringe combing machine, the combination of a box, bearings thereon, a transverse shaft in said bearings, means on said shaft, whereby it may be rotated, a cylindrical drum on the shaft within the box, yieldable combing teeth upon the drum, a guard casing arranged upon the box over the projecting portion of the drum, a slidable support for a fringed article having a curved surface concentric with the drum for supporting the fringe and holding the same against the teeth of the drum, means for guiding the slidable support, a spring for retracting the slidable support, and a stop for limiting the sliding movement of the slidable support under the action of said spring.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JESSE D. PENNINGTON. FRANK G. ANDREWS. Witnesses J. E. Jonnsron, Jr., L. C. BLANOI-IARD. 

